Saturday, July 18, 2015

Tyumen Grand Slam 2015 - DAY 1

The second IJF Grand Slam of the season
started on Saturday with a sensational judo spectacle at the sold out
Tyumen Athletic Centre in Siberia.

The two-day centrepiece of Russian Judo has welcomed
312 judoka from 53 nations who are all looking to strengthen their case
for world honours next month in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Russia are every bit adept at hosting major judo events
as they are at producing judo champions and the second instalment of
the Grand Slam in the Siberian region features a 56-strong home team
with four Russian judoka in every category which the visiting nations
all have to overcome.

On the opening day in the Tyumen the women’s -48kg,
-52kg, -57kg and -63kg categories and men’s -60kg, -66kg and -73kg
categories opened the second of five Grand Slams on the IJF calendar
with upcoming editions due in Paris, Abu Dhabi and Tokyo.

The opening ceremony took place ahead of the final
block and saw a parade of the flags of the participating countries
before the event was officially opened.

Mr. Alexander MOORE, Head of Administration of Tyumen,
made the first address in the teeming venue. “Dear friends, I am glad to
welcome athletes from all over the world and fans of the Tyumen Grand
Slam on our hospitable land. It is a great honour for us to host a top
level judo event again. Tyumen held the Grand Slam for the first time in
2014, a spectacular and perfectly organised event.

Mr. Alexander MOORE made the first speech at the opening ceremony

“The Tyumen citizens really love judo and thousands of
children from different sport sections do judo with the dream of winning
world and Olympic medals. Judo is an example of a healthy way of life
and is a sport we can all be proud to be part of. I wish all the
athletes to fully realise their fighting ambitions and to earn ranking
points and wish them good luck. I hope judo fans enjoy spectacular
fights and get a positive feeling from the competition.”

Mr. Sergey SOLOVEYCHIK, IJF Vice President and EJU
President, said: “Dear athletes, coaches, fans and guests, on behalf of
IJF I welcome you all to the Tyumen Grand Slam 2015. This event is one
of most prestigious on the IJF calendar and will help athletes to be
seeded for the World Championships in August.

“We wish the athletes spectacular fights, good luck and
a straight forward road to Rio 2016. I also thank the local organising
committee for their efforts and the Russian Judo Federation, the city
administration and regional judo federation for a perfect organisation
of this event. Ladies and gentlemen we declare the Tyumen Grand Slam
open.”

Mr. Sergey SOLOVEYCHIK (above) opened the Tyumen Grand Slam

On Sunday the heavyweights get their chance to secure
vital world ranking points in the race to be seeded for the World
Championships and ultimately to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The women’s -70kg, -78kg and +78kg judoka will be joined in action on
day two by the men’s -81kg, -90kg, -100g and +100kg judoka.

Germany’s -81kg hope Alexander WIECZERZAK said: “Over
the past few weeks we’ve had a busy programme: From the European Games
to the training camp in Spain and three days later we are here at the
Grand Slam in Tyumen. I focus on the World Championships in Astana.
There's no need to say that I will give my best on Sunday, but the focus
is definitely on Astana.”

Britain’s World Judo Masters silver medallist and -78kg
star Natalie POWELL said: “My goals for this year are to win Grand Slam
and Grand Prix medals to accumulate enough points to qualify in the
world’s top four for Rio 2016. The medal I really want this year as at
the World Championships.”

WOMEN

-48kg: Faultless FIGUEROA frustrates the hosts to strike gold

Tbilisi Grand Prix silver medallist Julia FIGUEROA
(ESP) won her first IJF gold medal on Saturday as she dispatched former
European bronze medallist Kristina RUMYANTSEVA (RUS) in the -48kg final.
The Spanish fighter fought and defeated three Russian judoka to issue a
statement of intent in the last senior IJF event before the World
Championships. RUMYANTSEVA, who won bronze at the Russian Grand Slam in
2012, had the chance to win her country’s first gold medal of the Grand
Slam, but FIGUEROA still had to measure of the home judoka at the third
time of asking as she trapped her opponent in osaekomi for 20 seconds
and the gold medal.

FIGUEROA said: “I am very happy to win gold, this was
my first Grand Slam final. All three Russian judoka I fought were very
tough. Now I will think of the World Championships as that is next for
me.”

In the first semi-final RUMYANTSEVA bested teammate and
Budapest Grand Prix bronze medallist Nataliya KONDRATYEVA (RUS) by
ippon after just 46 seconds as the home crowd found out who would be
their representative in a Tyumen Grand Slam final. In the second
semi-final the gutsy FIGUEROA, who was described by her coach AN as one
of the most hard working judoka he has ever worked with, went the
distance with the World Judo Masters and European Games bronze medallist
Irina DOLGOVA (RUS). Despite both judoka cancelling each other out, the
initial four minutes were lively and an exciting conclusion was
anticipated in golden score. Teenager DOLGOVA was thrown with a left
morote-seoi-nage for a yuko and the Spaniard FIGUEROA guaranteed her
first Grand Slam medal.

The first bronze medal was awarded to 19-year-old
DOLGOVA who defeated Baku Grand Slam winner Monica UNGUREANU (ROU) who
had started the day as the top seed. The Russian youngster won her first
medal at one of the IJF’s five Grand Slams – and on home soil - in
golden score by a yuko and that memory is something that will stay with
her for the first of her career. The second bronze medal was won by
former Qingdao Grand Prix winner Alesya KUZNETSOVA (RUS) who defeated
former Baku Grand Slam bronze medallist KONDRATYEVA with a breathaking
illustration of her ne-waza prowess. KUZNETSOVA stepped onto a Grand
Slam podium for the first time as she came from behind to score a yuko, a
waza-ari and then held down her compatriot for 15 seconds to win by
wazari-awasette-ippon.

-52kg: Emotional RAMOS rules in Russia

Budapest Grand Prix bronze medallist Joana RAMOS (POR)
celebrated winning her first Grand Slam gold medal as she continues to
defy the odds at the age of 33. Asian Championships winner MA Yingnan
(CHN), who was fifth at the World Championships last year in
Chelyabinsk, fell behind to a waza-ari after 40 seconds and that was the
difference at the end of the contest as the Portuguese fighter, who won
silver at the 2010 Russia Grand Slam, showed the world that she is
truly in her prime.

In the first semi-final RAMOS defeated two-time Grand
Slam winner Jaana SUNDBERG (FIN) in golden score. After four minutes the
contest was tied with one shido to each fighter and no scores
registered and so the action continued with an unlimited period of
golden score. RAMOS showed her superior conditioning level by moving
forward at every opportunity and was rewarded with the win as she scored
a yuko after 68 seconds of additional time. In the second semi-final
former world bronze medallist Mareen KRAEH (GER) was defeated by MA by a
waza-ari score as the latter made sure that the nine-strong all-female
Chinese team made a positive start in Tyumen.

The first bronze medal was clinched by KRAEH who
dismissed Jeju Grand Prix bronze medallist Gili COHEN (ISR) by ippon
after 79 seconds. The second bronze medal was won by two-time Grand Slam
bronze medallist Roni SCHWARTZ (ISR) who bested SUNDBERG by a waza-ari
as the Finnish fighter was off form in the last contest.

-57kg: Teen YOSHIDA defeats top seed CAPRIORIU

Tokyo Grand Slam bronze medallist YOSHIDA Tsukasa (JPN)
defeated World Judo Masters bronze medallist Corina CAPRIORIU (ROU) –
who turned 29 today – in the -57kg final. YOSHIDA, 19, is one of a
plethora of Japanese riches in the category including the reigning world
and Olympic champions and was competing in only her second senior IJF
event. YOSHIDA initially attacked with a kosoto-gari and drove the
Romanian over towards the edge of the tatami to take the lead and after
four minutes that was enough to win her first Grand Slam title.

In the first semi-final CAPRIORIU showed her desire to
celebrate her birthday by winning in Tyumen. The Romanian was successful
against world bronze medallist Sanne VERHAGEN (NED) in the semi-final
by a yuko in a close contest where both judoka traded shido penalties.
In the second semi-final YOSHIDA ended the title defence of 2014 Tyumen
Grand Slam winner Catherine BEAUCHEMIN-PINARD (CAN) in golden score.
YOSHIDA sealed her place in the -57kg final with a yuko score after 79
seconds of extra time.

The first bronze medal was won by BEAUCHEMIN-PINARD who
was successful against Beijing 2008 Olympic champion Giulia QUINTAVALLE
(ITA) by ippon in the third minute. The second bronze medal was won by
beaten semi-finalist VERHAGEN who came back to form for the Netherlands
by triumphing against 35-year-old stalwart Sabrina FILZMOSER (AUT) by a
waza-ari which was the only score of the contest.

-63kg: TSEDEVSUREN wins all-Mongolian final

Asian Championships winner TSEDEVSUREN Munkhzaya (MGL)
won an-all Mongolian -63kg final as the force of one of judo’s
powerhouse nations was on display following the recent Ulaanbaatar Grand
Prix. TSEDEVSUREN prevailed in a scrappy contest as TSEND-AYUSH
Tserennadmid (MGL), who won her home event earlier this month, was
penalised on three occasions while her colleague was penalised twice.

In the first semi-final Alice SCHLESINGER (GBR) – who
overcame world silver medallist Yarden GERBI (ISR) in the quarter-finals
– lost out to TSEDEVSUREN in the last four stage. SCHLESINGER has
enjoyed a new lease of life under the British regime but was
convincingly defeated by ippon from a makikomi effort after trailing to a
waza-ari score. In the second semi-final TSEND-AYUSH matched the
efforts of her teammate as she squeezed past Zagreb Grand Prix bronze
medallist Edwige GWEND (ITA) on shido penalties. The Italian judoka was
penalised twice while her Mongolian opponent was only reprimanded once
by the referee.

The first bronze medal was won by 2013 world champion
Yarden GERBI (ISR) who found herself in the repechage which has been
familiar territory for the two-time Grand Slam winner this year. GERBI
was at her ruthless best in this contest as she scored a yuko and added a
second from a kesa-gatame hold for 12 seconds against GWEND and wrapped
up the victory by ippon with 43 seconds left. The second bronze medal
was won by SCHLESINGER against Budapest Grand Prix bronze medallist Anna
BERNHOLM (SWE) as the latter toiled and was penalised four times to
receive hansoku-make.

MEN

-60kg: KIDO retains Tyumen title for Japan

All Japan Championships winner and reigning Tyumen
Grand Slam champion KIDO Shinji (JPN) successfully defended his 2014
gold medal as he beat former European bronze medallist Ashley MCKENZIE
(GBR) in the -60kg final. World number 28 MCKENZIE, who celebrated his
26th birthday on Friday, had never won a Grand Slam before day and
needed a strong showing to book his ticket to the World Championships.
KIDO proved his quality on the international stage once again as he
submitted the British judoka with shime-waza after leading with a yuko.

In the first semi-final Astana Grand Prix bronze
medallist Askhat TELMANOV (KAZ) fell to Asian Championships silver
medallist KIDO by a waza-ari score. In the second semi-final MCKENZIE
saw off Budapest Grand Prix silver medallist Aibek IMASHEV (KAZ). Both
judoka had registered waza-ari scores but MCKENZIE also had a yuko next
to his name and stayed firm to advance.

The first bronze medal was claimed by beaten
semi-finalist IMASHEV who subdued Casablanca African Open bronze
medallist Islam YASHUEV (RUS) by ippon. The second bronze medal also
went to Kazakhstan as TELMANOV defeated Yann SICCARDI (MON) by
wazari-awasette-ippon.

-66kg: TAKAJO adds to Japan's gold medal streak

Former World Judo Masters silver medallist TAKAJO
Tomofumi (JPN) thwarted 25-year-old former Junior world bronze
medallist Gabit YESSIMBETOV (KAZ) in the -66kg final to keep his country
on the gold medal trail. World number 207 YESSIMBETOV, who was last
seen on the tour in 2014 finishing fifth at the first Tbilisi Grand
Prix, was second best in the final as he was behind to a waza-ari and
accumulated shido penalties which were a sign of his struggles in
dealing with the ability of his world-class rival.

In the first semi-final Qingdao Grand Prix winner Yakub
SHAMILOV (RUS) was surprised by YESSIMBETOV who won by ippon with a
ura-nage with two minutes left on the clock. YESSIMBETOV silenced the
home crowd when he took the lead with a waza-ari and never looked back
as he grew in confidence and was a worthy winner. In the second
semi-final TAKAJO sent Ulaanbaatar Grand Prix bronze medallist DOVDON
Altansukh (MGL) into the repechage to fight for bronze and sealed his
own progression into the -66kg final. TAKAJO held down DOVDON for 20
seconds and ippon as he adjusted his body to keep the pressure on the
Mongolian who could not escape despite a spirited attempt.

The first bronze medal was won by Ulaanbaatar Grand
Prix bronze medallist DOVDON against 21-year-old newcomer Iman SULTANOV
(RUS) who faded in the closing minute as the Mongolian upped his pace
and took control of the contest as he won by ippon. The second bronze
medal went to SHAMILOV who saw off Minsk European Open silver medallist
Anzaur ARDANOV (RUS) by ippon after 91 seconds.

-73kg: KURZHEV wins Russia's first home gold medal

Reigning Tyumen Grand Slam bronze medallist Uali
KURZHEV (RUS) defeated Minsk European Open winner Guillaume CHAINE (FRA)
in the -73kg final. Frenchman CHAINE was contesting his first World
Judo Tour final and was good value for that inaugural appearance but
KURZHEV was not going to be denied in his home country and endeared
himself to the home faithful as he won by a yuko score.

In the first semi-final KURZHEV shocked Abu Dhabi Grand
Slam silver medallist Musa MOGUSHKOV (RUS) with alarming ease. The
26-year-old defeated his colleague by ippon after leading the favourite
MOGUSHKOV by a waza-ari score. In the second semi-final CHAINE powered
past Minsk European Open bronze medallist Igor WANDTKE (GER). The
Frenchman started by scoring a waza-ari in under 30 seconds and WANDTKE
never recovered as he was caught again by his opponent and moved down to
the repechage to fight for bronze.

The first bronze medal was won by WANDTKE as he
defeated Pan American Championships bronze medallist Arthur MARGELIDON
(CAN). The German judoka finished fifth at the Baku Grand Slam earlier
this year and showed his improvement since then by earning his first
Grand Slam medal. MARGELIDON was penalised twice for passivity in the
scoreless contest while his German foe recorded an unblemished record.
The second bronze medal went to MOGUSHKOV as 2010 world champion AKIMOTO
Hiroyuki (JPN) could not compete for a place on the podium after
sustaining a leg injury in his previous contest.